Saliva ejector



Jan. 8, 1929. 1,698,331

N. C. GUNTER SALIVA EJEGTOR Filed July 15. 1925 Mia/LC Gun ter,

Patented Jan. 8, 1929.

NEWTON o. Gems, PUEBLO, COLORADO.

I I sALIvA EJECTOB.

Application filed J'uly 15, 1925. Serial No. 43,814.

My invention relates to saliva ejectorsand particularly to an ejector of the suction or siphon type intended for use by dentists and others to prevent the accumulation of saliva inthe oral cavity. I V v j d An object of this invention-is to provide an ejector which is adjustableto suit differ ent con'ditions of use and toaccommodate the device for different persons upon whom it is used. f I v A further object resides'in providing a cushioned support so that the ejector'structure can be supported and carried entirely by the lower teeth of the it is fitted. p I

Another object is to provide a guard at the intake end of the ejector whichwill strain the fluids to exclude particles which might cause cloggingandwhich'at the same time permits a close 'adjustmentof the intalire-noz zle without danger of suclnng upv or otherwise in urlng' or dlsturbmg the tissues nthe mouth. Still another ob ect lies in providlng a structure WlllCll 1s of such construction that the several parts thereof can be readily disassembled for cleaning and sterilization, the constructlon being such that my lmproved ejector can be made up entirely of materials lVith the above and other objects in View,

which will be apparent to those skilled in the art, my invention includes certain novel features of construction and combinations of parts which will be set forth in connection with the drawing.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a View in side elevation of an ejector constructed in accordance with'my invention.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 with parts in section. a

Fig. 3 is a detail View of the suction point.

Fig. 4 is a View in elevation of the guard.

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view on the line 5-5 of Figure 1.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 4 showing a modified form of guard.

I am awarethat saliva ejector-s are now well known and are commonly used by dentists and others operating or working in the oral cavity, and my improved saliva ejector is intended and adapted for connection and person to Wlios'e'mouth use with the usual suction or siphon tube'a's now commonly employed.

A crooked or curved tube 1 isjad'apted to have the suction tube connected in any suitable manner on the'end 2 thereof and is provided with a socket 3 at its remaining end to receive the suction point 4;. In the present instance I have shown this end 3 as being internally screw threaded and the suction beyond the knurled shoulderfigfan externally: I I

screw threaded portion 9 being g' provi'ded be-I tween the nozzle 8 and the shoulder 6. T

to I

- A guard'lO is provided with an internally threaded sleeve 11 adapted to be screwed upon the threaded portion 9'of the suction point, andthis guard. is, in the preferred embodiment, shown as made up of'a piece of wire mesh of smaller gauge than the hole or passage 7 through the suction point, the wire mesh being shaped up to present substantially a ball form around the nozzle 8 with the wire mesh closely adjacent the intake end of the nozzle. I

A sleeve 12 is slightly fitted over the end I 2 of tube 1 to be adjustable along the straight extent thereof, this sleeve having the elongat-g ed slits 13 formed in parallel spaced relation through one'side thereof to provide a resilient strip 14 which is bent in slightly to fric this hook 15 andextends beyond the end thereof. I p H y In Fig. 6 I have shown a modified construction of the guard, and in this instance 7 the guard is made up as a hollow ball 17 of glass, metal, or other suitable material, p

having a plurality of perforations 18 there- I through, the perforations being preferably of less diameter than the opening or passage 7 through the suction nozzle.

3 glass or, similar material, it may be found desirabletoalso construct the suction point of glass, and with this construction it will prob- I ably be found necessary to taper the suction point adjacent its ends andcorrespondingly l taper the end of tube 1 and the opening of guard 17 adapted to receive and be fitted upon the suction point; however, as such substitution of frictional fitting for" screw threaded connection is old and well known I have not here'illustrated'this adaptation;

In the use ofmy improved saliva ejector the tube 1 has its end 2 connected with the suction vhose in the usual manner and the sleeve 12 is adjusted along the tube to such bear slightly uponthe tissue of the mouth,

7 this pressure causing the tissue to cup'down toform a Wellfin which the intake end" of the cnozz l ej s of suction'point'4 projects. The guard 10 prevents stoppage otthe'. passage "7;v by particlesfbeing drawn into the suction Vpoint,1-and atthe same time guards against the mouth tissuesbeing SllOkBClllP against 30.

this point;

a From the foregoing a will be ea that I 2 have provided afsalivaejector wvhich'is of simple and inexpensive construction, thus,

being jreadily disassembled for cleaning and WhileIhave hereinshownand described only certain specific constructions and embodiments of myinventijon "and have suggested only certa n possiblemodihcations of the construction and assembly and certain possible]substitutions of materials, it will be appreciated thatchanges and variations can be made; in the form, construction, assembly, and: the materials, without departing from the spiritand scope of my invention.

' Iclaim':

ings therethrough re atively smaller. than the VA saliva ejector comprising a su ction tube V to'be connected at one end with a suction hose a relation that the hook 15 ispositioned vvithi r in the curve of the suctiontube '1 to engage over the lower teeth and sup port the entire weight of the iinstruinent. This adjustment ispreferably sdmadethat the guard 10 will 50 and havingfits remaining end bent over to be fitted Within a mouth a suction pointcarried "by the bent end of the suction tube, and having a. suction passage therethrough, guard inclosing the suction oint and havingvopenss hoseconnection endof the suction tube, said supporting hook being shaped to conform substantially with the bend of the suction tube and to be fittedupon the lowerteeth to position the suction point,andacushioncover-.

"ing on the tooth-engaging portion ofthe supportinghooke l h i 'n testimonynwhereofIhereunto afiix my signature.

NEWTON o. GUNTER- 

